Newspaper

A 19-year-old Newton man was killed in an automobile accident at about 6 p.m. Saturday near the intersection of First and Mockingbird in Newton.

According to police reports, a 17-year-old male was driving at a high rate of speed in a 2003 GMC Envoy, headed into town on First. The driver lost control of the vehicle and went through a power pole and hit a tree. The vehicle landed on its roof in a ditch about 50-feet from the street.

Officer Deanna Mowry was the first on the scene and found the car overturned with a passenger trapped inside.

Jordan Dean Harris, 19, Newton, was trapped inside the vehicle. He was extracted by Newton EMS workers and taken to Newton Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

According to police reports, he was pinned inside the vehicle under the dashboard. The 17-year-old driver had minor injuries.

Both were wearing seatbelts according to the police report. Police Chief Jim Daily said there was no indication of alcohol or drug use. He added that police will continue the investigation to determine the exact cause.

The police report said the driver thought a car waiting to pull onto the road at the intersection of Mockingbird was going to pull out. The driver swerved in response and lost control, the report said.

A memorial fund has been set up with Midland National Bank, 527 N. Main St. in Newton, to help pay for the burial.